Why do people get such strong feelings over electric cars and solar panels etc.

[Gillstay]

Well I am not sure if we covered my initial question and there has been some excellent thoughts which have left me to ponder a few times.

All of which is good. It also meant I went and tried one out.

A Nissan leaf at £6000 and I was impressed. It would not do for me, but my partner it would fit very well, bar being a bit bigger car than she wants.

 

[wafter]

Battery powered cars predate petrol powered cars.

Perhaps great granddad gbb was right to have had similar reservations about moving to the electric horseless carriage from horses

 

[TheDoctor]

what's going to happen to billions of unuseable batteries?
are the resources (cobalt, lithium etc) there to sustain a longer term future for EVs as we know it?

Same answer to both questions. As soon as it becomes economical or necessary to recycle EV batteries, it'll happen.

 

[wafter]

Same answer to both questions. As soon as it becomes economical or necessary to recycle EV batteries, it'll happen.

That's a significant leap of faith into the realms of economic over physics...

 

[All uphill]

I'm sure great granddad gbb would have had similar reservations about moving to the combustion engine from horses.

You can get oats for your horse anywhere, what if the hardware shop runs out of petrol?

You can't put car exhaust on your roses.

A horse is always ready to go. With a car it takes ten minutes to get the thing to start!

 

[cougie uk]

Already there's car battery packs being recycled and repurposed into storage at football stadia and charging stations.

If there's very few batteries to be recycled then there's little money to be made. When batteries start needing recycling in greater numbers you bet there's going to be a lot of companions doing it.

 

[FishFright]

That's a significant leap of faith into the realms of economic over physics...

Luckily it's chemistry when it comes to recycling Lithium .

 

[classic33]

Already there's car battery packs being recycled and repurposed into storage at football stadia and charging stations.

If there's very few batteries to be recycled then there's little money to be made. When batteries start needing recycling in greater numbers you bet there's going to be a lot of companions doing it.

One problem already present, in what some class as the company at the front, is that only they can touch your car for repairs. You agreed to that when you agreed the "purchase".
How much will they charge to replace their batteries?

 

[wafter]

Luckily it's chemistry when it comes to recycling Lithium .

Just physics on a smaller scale - don't worry; I dont understand either 👍

 

[Baldy]

A Nissan leaf at £6000 and I was impressed. It would not do for me, but my partner it would fit very well, bar being a bit bigger car than she wants.

Why wouldn't it do for you? Not criticism just interested.

 

[cougie uk]

One problem already present, in what some class as the company at the front, is that only they can touch your car for repairs. You agreed to that when you agreed the "purchase".
How much will they charge to replace their batteries?

There's no restrictions on who repairs my car.

No Idea about the cost of replacing the battery - there's a warranty that guarantees it's capacity for years.

It's the same with replacing an engine isn't it - do you buy your car with an eye to the cost of something major but unlikely to happen?

 

[Mike_P]

On cost there a new VW EV due next year claimed to be c.£22,000 which is to all intents an EV Polo, the ICE Polo starts at £20,950.

 

[classic33]

There's no restrictions on who repairs my car.

No Idea about the cost of replacing the battery - there's a warranty that guarantees it's capacity for years.

It's the same with replacing an engine isn't it - do you buy your car with an eye to the cost of something major but unlikely to happen?

The batteries are what is supplying the power to the electric motors, in much the same way as a fuel tank supplies the power to the engine.

Fuel tanks and batteries run out/down. Do you expect your fuel tank to require replacement when you buy a car?
If you do, do you buy one at the time you purchase the car new? Just in case.

 

[fossyant]

On cost there a new VW EV due next year claimed to be c.£22,000 which is to all intents an EV Polo, the ICE Polo starts at £20,950.

But it won't be - it will be £10k premium. EV's are selling with PCP/company lease deals. The second hand value of an EV equivalent car is cheaper than ICE at the moment - buying a new EV is madness due to depreciation - lease - fine.

Been looking at a few vehicles. I can get a 4-5 year old ICE people carrier at the same price as a six month old EV version - both have depreciated loads, but the EV version is insane - it's like brand new for half price. Makes alot of sense for me to get the new EV one !

 

[Alex321]

One problem already present, in what some class as the company at the front, is that only they can touch your car for repairs. You agreed to that when you agreed the "purchase".
How much will they charge to replace their batteries?

That may be true in the US, it would be illegal here or in the EU.